In this research, the effect of bubble surface area flux, Sb, and particle size on flotation rate constant, k, of pyrite (FeS2) particles was studied using bubble-particle interactions. The bubble-particle collision, attachment and detachment efficiencies were calculated under different flow regimes. The k increased with increase in the collision efficiency and decrease in the detachment efficiency. Also the bubble-particle collection efficiency increased with increase in the Sb. Thus difficulty in the floating of fine particles was attributed to low efficiency of the bubble-particle collision efficiency while difficulty in the floating of coarse particles was due to high efficiency of bubble-particle detachment. Maximum collision, attachment and detachment efficiencies were obtained as 81.57%, 50.60% and 51.89%, respectively.

[4] Anthony R.M., Kelsall D.F., Trahar W.J., The Effect of Particle Size on the Activation and Flotation of Sphalerite, Proceedings of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 254, p. 47 (1975).